Child Seat

ABSTRACT

A child seat includes a seat portion, a backrest frame, a connector, and a locking mechanism operable to rotationally lock and unlock the connector with respect to the seat portion. The seat portion is fixedly connected with a first coupling part. The backrest frame is fixedly connected with a second coupling part, the second coupling part being pivotally connected with the first coupling part about a first pivot axis so that the backrest frame is rotatable relative to the seat portion. The connector is pivotally connected with the seat portion about a second pivot axis spaced apart from the first pivot axis, the connector being operable to detachably engage with a corresponding structure provided on a child supporting apparatus.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 17/987,765 filed on Nov. 15, 2022, which is acontinuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/167,255filed on Feb. 4, 2021, which is a divisional application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 16/387,257 filed on Apr. 17, 2019 that issued asU.S. patent Ser. No. 10/945,534, which claims priority to China patentapplication no. 201810368423.7 filed on Apr. 23, 2018.

BACKGROUND 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to child seats.

2. Description of the Related Art

Various juvenile products are available on the market for facilitatingcare and transport of young children. For example, a child stroller maybe typically used to transport a child outdoor. The child strollergenerally has a seat portion, a backrest and a front guard. During use,the front guard can be erected to forwardly restrain a child sitting onthe child stroller, and the backrest frame may be deployed forsupporting a child's back. When the child stroller is unused, the frontguard and the backrest may be folded to reduce the size of the childstroller for convenient storage.

In certain child strollers, the seat portion, the backrest and the frontguard may be assembled as a detachable seat that can be installed andremoved from the child stroller. Because the detachable seat isgenerally not coupled to the stroller frame for folding and unfoldingmovements, a caregiver usually has to separately fold and unfold thedetachable seat. As a result, more operating steps are required, whichmay undesirably complicate the folding and unfolding of the childstroller.

Therefore, there is a need for an improved design that is moreconvenient to operate, and can address at least the foregoing issues.

SUMMARY

The present application describes a child seat that is convenient tofold and unfold. According to one embodiment, the child seat includes aseat portion, a backrest frame, a connector, and a locking mechanismoperable to rotationally lock and unlock the connector with respect tothe seat portion. The seat portion is fixedly connected with a firstcoupling part. The backrest frame is fixedly connected with a secondcoupling part, the second coupling part being pivotally connected withthe first coupling part about a first pivot axis so that the backrestframe is rotatable relative to the seat portion. The connector ispivotally connected with the seat portion about a second pivot axisspaced apart from the first pivot axis, the connector being operable todetachably engage with a corresponding structure provided on a childsupporting apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a child seat;

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the child seat shown in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of portion A shown in FIG. 2 ;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an embodiment of a lockingmechanism operable to lock and unlock a connector in the child seat, thelocking mechanism being shown in a locking position;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the locking mechanismshown in FIG. 4 in an unlocking position;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the child seat with a backrestframe rotated in a folding direction for unlocking the locking mechanismshown in FIG. 4 ;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of portion B shown in FIG. 6 ;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a latching device used in thelocking mechanism shown in FIG. 4 ;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating further construction detailsprovided in an embodiment of a child seat;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of portion C shown in FIG. 9 ;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a child seatprovided with a variant construction of a locking mechanism operable tolock and unlock a connector;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of portion D shown in FIG. 11 illustratingfurther construction details of the locking mechanism;

FIG. 13 is a schematic view illustrating a latching device used in thelocking mechanism shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 ;

FIG. 14 is a schematic view illustrating a housing of a connector usedin the child seat shown in FIG. 11 ;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a child seatprovided with a coupling mechanism operable to movably couple a seatportion to a backrest frame of the child seat;

FIG. 16 is an enlarged view of portion E shown in FIG. 15 illustratingfurther construction details of the coupling mechanism;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view illustrating a coupling part of a backrestframe used in the coupling mechanism shown in FIGS. 15 and 16 ;

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the assembly of thebackrest frame and the connector with the seat portion;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view illustrating the child seat shown in FIG.15 with the backrest frame in a folded state and the connector in asecond angular position relative to the seat portion;

FIG. 20 is a perspective view illustrating the child seat shown in FIG.15 with the backrest frame in an unfolded state and the connector in afirst angular position relative to the seat portion;

FIG. 21 is a side view illustrating another embodiment of a child seat;

FIG. 22 is a schematic view illustrating another construction of alocking mechanism operable to lock and unlock a connector in the childseat shown in FIG. 21 ; and

FIG. 23 is a perspective view illustrating a coupling part of a backrestframe used in the locking mechanism shown in FIG. 22 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 and 2 are two perspective views illustrating an embodiment of achild seat 200 detachably installable on a child supporting apparatus.FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of portion A shown in FIG. 2 . Referring toFIGS. 1-3 , the child seat 200 can include a seat portion 201, abackrest frame 202 and a front guard 203. The seat portion 201 can beconfigured to receive a child, and can be respectively assembled withthe backrest frame 202 and the front guard 203.

The backrest frame 202 may be pivotally connected with the seat portion201 about a pivot axis P. According to an example of construction, theseat portion 201 can be respectively connected fixedly with two couplingparts 1 at the left and right sides, and the backrest frame 202 can havetwo side end portions respectively connected fixedly with two othercoupling parts 5 that are respectively connected pivotally with the twocoupling parts 1 of the seat portion 201 about the pivot axis P. Thecoupling parts 1 may be formed integrally with the seat portion 201, orfixedly attached to the seat portion 201 via fasteners. At each of theleft and right sides, the coupling part 5 of the backrest frame 202 canbe pivotally connected with the coupling part 1 of the seat portion 201at an inner side of the coupling part 1. The front guard 203 can extendtransversally above the seat portion 201, and can be pivotally connectedwith the seat portion 201 at the left and right sides thereof. Each ofthe backrest frame 202 and the front guard 203 is thereby rotatablerelative to the seat portion 201 for folding and unfolding the childseat 200. For example, the backrest frame 202 and the front guard 203may be rotated forward toward a front of the seat portion 201 forfolding the child seat 200, and may be rotated rearward to unfold thechild seat 200 for use. Moreover, the backrest frame 202 may be adjustedto different positions relative to the seat portion 201 for providingvarious sitting configurations, e.g., an upright sitting position or arecline position.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3 , the child seat 200 can further include twoconnectors 2 respectively provided at a left and a right side of theseat portion 201 for detachably engaging with two correspondingstructures provided on a child supporting apparatus (not shown). The twoconnectors 2 can be pivotally connected with the seat portion 201 abouta pivot axis Q that extends transversally from the left to the rightside of the seat portion 201 and is spaced apart from the pivot axis Pof the backrest frame 202. For example, each connector 2 can include ahousing 20 that is pivotally connected with the seat portion 201 aboutthe pivot axis Q. More specifically, the housing 20 of each connector 2may be pivotally connected with the corresponding coupling part 1 at anouter side thereof. At each of the left and right sides, the couplingpart 1 of the seat portion 201 thus can be disposed between theconnector 2 and the coupling part 5 of the backrest frame 202. Thehousing 20 of each connector 2 can have an outer side provided with aninsert opening 22 adapted to detachably engage with a correspondingstructure provided on a child supporting apparatus. The child seat 200can be thereby installed and removed as desired on the standing frame ofthe child supporting apparatus. Examples of child supporting apparatusesthat can receive the installation of the child seat 200 can include,without limitation, child strollers, highchairs, and the like.

The seat portion 201, the backrest frame 202 and the two connectors 2are rotatable relative to one another when the child seat 200 isadjusted between an unfolded state and a folded state. When the childseat 200 is installed on a child supporting apparatus with theconnectors 2 engaged with the standing frame of the child supportingapparatus, the child seat 200 can be configured to the unfolded statefor receiving a child with the backrest frame 202 unfolded forsupporting the child's back. In the folded state, the backrest frame 202can be folded toward the front of the seat portion 201 to reduce thesize of the unused child seat 200 for convenient storage. The child seat200 may be switched between the unfolded state and the folded state byrotating the backrest frame 202. Moreover, the seat portion 201 mayrotate relative to the two connectors 2 when the backrest frame 202 isadjusted between the unfolded state and the folded state. For example,when the backrest frame 202 is in the unfolded state, each of the twoconnectors 2 can be disposed in a first angular position relative to theseat portion 201 with the insert opening 22 of the connector 2 orientedin a direction substantially perpendicular to the seat portion 201. Whenthe backrest frame 202 is turned to the folded state, each of the twoconnectors 2 can be moved to a second angular position relative to theseat portion 201 with the insert opening 22 of the connector 2 tilted anangle and displaced forward relative to the first angular position. Thismay provide a more compact folded size that can facilitate storage of achild supporting apparatus with the child seat 200 installed thereon.

In conjunction with FIGS. 1-3 , FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional viewillustrating further construction details of the child seat 200.Referring to FIGS. 1-4 , the child seat 200 can include two lockingmechanisms 100A operable to lock and unlock the two connectors 2 withrespect to the seat portion 201. The two locking mechanisms 100Aprovided at the left and right sides may have a same construction andoperate in a same way. Each locking mechanism 100A can be operativelyconnected with the backrest frame 202 so that a rotation of the backrestframe 202 in a folding direction causes the locking mechanism 100A tounlock the corresponding connector 2, and a rotation of the backrestframe 202 in an unfolding direction causes the locking mechanism 100A tolock the connector 2 with respect to the seat portion 201. Accordingly,the locking mechanism 100A can lock the corresponding connector 2 inposition relative to the seat portion 201 when the child seat 200 is inthe unfolded state, and unlock the connector 2 for relative rotationbetween the seat portion 201 and the connector 2 as the backrest frame202 rotates from the unfolded state to the folded state. According to anembodiment, each locking mechanism 100A can include a latching device 3,a spring 4 and an actuating part 51.

In conjunction with FIGS. 1-4 , FIG. 8 is a perspective viewillustrating an embodiment of the latching device 3. Referring to FIGS.1-4 and 8 , the latching device 3 is slidably connected with thecoupling part 1, and can slide relative to the coupling part 1 between alocking position where the latching device 3 is engaged with the housing20 of the connector 2 and an unlocking position where the latchingdevice 3 is disengaged from the housing 20 of the connector 2. Forexample, the coupling part 1 can include a guide slot 11, and thelatching device 3 can be disposed for sliding movement along the guideslot 11. The guide slot 11 may exemplary open on an outer surface 10 ofthe coupling part 1, and the latching device 3 may be exposed on theouter surface 10 of the coupling part 1. According to an example ofconstruction, the latching device 3 can include a stem portion 31 and alocking portion 32 fixedly connected with each other, the lockingportion 32 protruding at a side of the stem portion 31, as shown in FIG.8 . The latching device 3 including the stem portion 31 and the lockingportion 32 may be formed integrally as a single part. When the latchingdevice 3 is assembled with the coupling part 1, the stem portion 31 maybe slidably received in the guide slot 11, and the locking portion 32can protrude sideways outside the guide slot 11 and toward the connector2. Moreover, the stem portion 31 may have a rib 313 extending lengthwisethat is slidably engaged with a slit 111 provided on an inner sidewallof the guide slot 11 to assist in restrictedly positioning the latchingdevice 3 with respect to the coupling part 1. The latching device 3 maybe thereby assembled to be slidable along an axis X substantiallyorthogonal to the respective pivot axes P and Q of the backrest frame202 and the connector 2 between the locking position and the unlockingposition.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 , the housing 20 of the connector 2 can bedisposed adjacent to the guide slot 11 of the coupling part 1, and canhave an opening 21 on an outer surface 24 of the housing 20. The lockingportion 32 of the latching device 3 can engage with the opening 21 inthe locking position, and disengage from the opening 21 in the unlockingposition. In particular, the latching device 3 can slide along the axisX toward the interior of the guide slot 11 for engaging the lockingportion 32 with the opening 21 of the housing 20, and slide along theaxis X to protrude outside the guide slot 11 for disengaging the lockingportion 32 from the opening 21 of the housing 20. FIGS. 3 and 4 show thelatching device 3 in the locking position, and FIGS. 5-7 show thelatching device 3 in the unlocking position.

The engagement of the latching device 3 with the opening 21 of thehousing 20 can lock the connector 2 in the first angular positionrelative to the seat portion 201 corresponding to the unfolded state ofthe child seat 200. When the latching device 3 is disengaged from theopening 21 of the housing 20, the connector 2 may rotate between thefirst and second angular positions relative to the seat portion 201. Thesecond angular position of the connector 2 relative to the seat portion201 may be exemplary set when the backrest frame 202 is in the foldedstate.

According to an embodiment, the connector 2 may remain unlocked when itis in any angular position other than the first angular positioncorresponding to the unfolded state of the backrest frame 202. Forexample, the locking portion 32 of the latching device 3 disengaged fromthe opening 21 may be in sliding contact with the outer surface 24 ofthe housing 20 during rotation of the connector 2 relative to the seatportion 201. According other embodiments, the housing 20 of theconnector 2 may include multiple openings, and the latching device 3 mayengage with any one of the multiple openings for locking the connector 2in different angular positions relative to the seat portion 201.

Referring to FIG. 4 , the spring 4 may be respectively connected withthe latching device 3 and an inner sidewall of the coupling part 1, andcan bias the latching device 3 toward the unlocking position. Forexample, the stem portion 31 of the latching device 3 may include acavity 311, and the spring 4 may have two opposite ends respectivelyconnected with a sidewall inside the cavity 311 and a sidewall insidethe guide slot 11.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4 , the actuating part 51 may be fixedly connectedwith the coupling part 5 of the backrest frame 202 so that the actuatingpart 51, the coupling part 5 and the backrest frame 202 can rotate inunison relative to the coupling part 1 of the seat portion 201 and theconnector 2. More specifically, the actuating part 51 can move between ahold state corresponding to the unfolded state of the backrest frame 202and a release state corresponding to a folding of the backrest frame202. FIGS. 2-4 illustrate the actuating part 51 in the hold state, andFIGS. 5-7 illustrate the actuating part 51 in the release state. In thehold state, the actuating part 51 can hold the latching device 3 in thelocking position against the biasing force of the spring 4 so as to keepthe connector 2 locked in the first angular position. In the releasestate, the actuating part 51 allows the latching device 3 to move to theunlocking position under the biasing force of the spring 4 for unlockingthe connector 2.

According to an example of construction, the actuating part 51 may havea curved shape, and may be disposed for movement along the outer surface10 of the coupling part 1. When the actuating part 51 is in the holdstate, the actuating part 51 can at least partially cover the opening ofthe guide slot 11 on the coupling part 1 and contact with the latchingdevice 3, e.g., at a distal end of the stem portion 31 and/or an outeredge of the locking portion 32 of the latching device 3. The hold stateof the actuating 51 can thereby retain the latching device 3 in thelocking position against the biasing force of the spring 4. When theactuating part 51 is moved to the release state by a folding rotation ofthe backrest frame 202, the actuating part 51 can be displaced away fromthe latching device 3 so that the latching device 3 can be urged by thespring 4 to the unlocking position disengaged from the opening 21 of thehousing 20.

Moreover, a movement of the actuating part 51 from the release state tothe hold state can cause the actuating part 51 to push against thelatching device 3 so that the latching device 3 is urged to move fromthe unlocking position to the locking position. For example, thelatching device 3 may have a ramp 312, and the actuating part 51 movingfrom the release state toward the hold state can push against the ramp312 so as to urge the latching device 3 to move from the unlockingposition to the locking position. Accordingly, the latching device 3 maybe switched from the unlocking position to the locking position bysimply rotating the backrest frame 202 to the unfolded state.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10 , the child seat 200 may further include aspring 6 operable to bias the connector 2 toward the first angularposition relative to the seat portion 201 when the backrest frame 202 isunfolded for use. For example, the spring 6 may be a torsion spring, andmay have two ends respectively connected with the coupling part 1 of theseat portion 201 and the housing 20 of the connector 2. The spring 6 maybe loaded when the backrest frame 202 is in the folded state and theconnector 2 in the second angular position relative to the seat portion201. When the child seat 200 is unfolded by rotating the backrest frame202 rearward, the spring 6 can apply a biasing force that assists theconnector 2 to rotate relative to the seat portion 201 and the backrestframe 202 from the second angular position to the first angularposition. This may facilitate unfolding of the child seat 200.

Although the spring 6 has been described as applying a biasing force forassisting the connector 2 to rotate from the second angular position tothe first angular position, it will be appreciated that the spring 6 mayalternatively be configured to assist the connector 2 to rotate from thefirst angular position to the second angular position, which mayfacilitate folding of the child seat 200.

Exemplary operation of the aforementioned child seat 200 is describedhereinafter with reference to FIGS. 1-10 . When the backrest frame 202is in the unfolded state, the connector 2 at each of the left and rightsides can be locked in the first angular position relative to the seatportion 201 by the latching device 3. Like described previously, thelatching device 3 can be kept in the locking position by the actuatingpart 51. As the backrest frame 202 is rotated in the folding directiontoward the front of the seat portion 201, the actuating part 51 movesaway from and releases the latching device 3, which can be urged to movefrom the locking position to the unlocking position by the spring 4. Theconnector 2 can be thereby unlocked with respect to the seat portion201, and the seat portion 201 and the connector 2 can rotate relative toeach other for facilitating collapsing of the child seat 200. When thebackrest frame 202 is in the folded state, the connector 2 can be set inthe second angular position relative to the seat portion 201 with theinsert opening 22 of the connector 2 tilted an angle and displacedforward relative to the first angular position.

To unfold the child seat 200, the backrest frame 202 can be rotated inthe unfolding direction toward the rear of the seat portion 201, and theconnector 2 can be rotated from the second angular position to the firstangular position relative to the seat portion 201. As the backrest frame202 rotates toward the unfolded state, the actuating part 51 can moveand push against the ramp 312 of the latching device 3, which isconsequently urged to move from the unlocking position to the lockingposition. The latching device 3 can thereby engage and lock theconnector 2 in the first angular position.

FIGS. 11-14 are various schematic views illustrating a variantconstruction of a locking mechanism 100B that may be applied in anembodiment of the child seat 200. The locking mechanism 100B may beprovided in an embodiment of the child seat 200 that pivotally assemblesthe backrest frame 202 and the connectors 2 to the seat portion 201 in asimilar manner as previously described. Referring to FIGS. 11-14 , thelocking mechanism 100B is operatively connected with the backrest frame202, and includes a latching device 3, a spring 4 and an actuating part51. The latching device 3 of the locking mechanism 100B is slidablyconnected with the coupling part 1 of the seat portion 201, and includesa stem portion 33, a locking portion 34 and a pin 35.

Referring to FIGS. 11-14 , the stem portion 33 can be disposed forsliding movement along the guide slot 11 of the coupling part 1, and canhave a mount cavity 331 and at least a driving slit 332. The axis X ofsliding movement of the stem portion 33 can be substantially orthogonalto the respective pivot axes of the backrest frame 202 and the connector2, like previously described. The locking portion 34 can be fixedlyconnected with the pin 35, and can be movably received at leastpartially in the mount cavity 331 of the stem portion 33 with the pin 35slidably guided through the driving slit 332. The driving slit 332 mayhave an elongate shape, and may be tilted an angle relative to the axisof sliding movement of the stem portion 33. For example, the tilt anglebetween the driving slit 332 and the axis of sliding movement of thestem portion 33 may be about 45 degrees. The stem portion 33 and thelocking portion 34 can be thereby coupled to each other via a slidingconnection allowing the locking portion 34 to slide relative to the stemportion 33 and the coupling part 1 for protruding or retracting at aside of the stem portion 33. For example, the locking portion 34 canslide along an axis substantially orthogonal to the axis X of slidingmovement of the stem portion 33. With this assembly, the stem portion 33can slide toward the interior of the guide slot 11 to urge the lockingportion 34 to slide and protrude at a side of the stem portion 33 forengaging with an opening 21 (better shown in FIG. 14 ) provided on thehousing 20 of the connector 2, and can slide toward the outside of theguide slot 11 to urge the locking portion 34 to slide and retract towardthe stem portion 33 for disengaging from the opening 21 of the housing20. The opening 21 can be provided on a side of the housing 20 facingthe coupling part 1 of the seat portion 201. The latching device 3thereby configured can have a locking position in which the lockingportion 34 of the latching device 3 is engaged with the opening 21 ofthe housing 20 to lock the connector 2 in the first angular positioncorresponding to the unfolded state of the child seat 200, and anunlocking position in which the locking portion 34 of the latchingdevice 3 is disengaged from the opening 21 of the housing 20 forrelative rotation between the connector 2 and the seat portion 201.

Referring to FIGS. 11-14 , the spring 4 may be respectively connectedwith the stem portion 33 of the latching device 3 and an inner sidewallof the coupling part 1, and can bias the latching device 3 toward theunlocking position.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 11-14 , the actuating part 51 can be fixedlyconnected with the coupling part 5 of the backrest frame 202 so that theactuating part 51, the coupling part 5 and the backrest frame 202 canrotate in unison relative to the coupling part 1 of the seat portion 201and the connector 2. Like previously described, the actuating part 51can move between a hold state corresponding to the unfolded state of thebackrest frame 202 and a release state corresponding to a folding of thebackrest frame 202. In the hold state, the actuating part 51 can contactwith the stem portion 33 of the latching device 3 and keep the latchingdevice 3 in the locking position against the biasing force of the spring4 for locking the connector 2 in the first angular position relative tothe seat portion 201. When the actuating part 51 is moved to the releasestate, the actuating part 51 can be displaced away from the stem portion33 of the latching device 3 so that the latching device 3 can be urgedby the spring 4 to the unlocking position disengaged from the opening 21of the housing 20.

Like previously described, the stem portion 33 of the latching device 3may have a ramp, and the actuating part 51 moving from the release statetoward the hold state can push against the ramp so as to urge thelatching device 3 to move from the unlocking position to the lockingposition. Accordingly, the latching device 3 may be switched from theunlocking position to the locking position by rotating the backrestframe 202 to the unfolded state.

FIGS. 15-18 are various views illustrating construction details of acoupling mechanism 70 that may be provided in an embodiment of the childseat 200. Referring to FIGS. 15-18 , the child seat 200 may furtherinclude a coupling mechanism 70 operable to movably couple the seatportion 201 to the backrest frame 202 so that the seat portion 201 andthe backrest frame 202 can move in unison relative to the connector 2during adjustment of the backrest frame 202 between the unfolded stateand the folded state. The coupling mechanism 70 may be provided in anembodiment of the child seat 200 that pivotally assembles the backrestframe 202 and the connectors 2 to the seat portion 201 in a similarmanner as previously described. More specifically, the couplingmechanism 70 may be assembled with the coupling part 1 of the seatportion 201, and include a linking part 7, a spring 71 and a releaseactuator 8. According to an example of construction, the coupling part 1can include a cover 12 and a casing portion 13 fixedly attached to eachother, the housing 20 of the connector 2 pivotally connected with thecoupling part 1 can be disposed adjacent to the cover 12, and thelinking part 7 and the release actuator 8 can be received at leastpartially in an interior of the casing portion 13.

The linking part 7 may be pivotally connected with the casing portion 13or the cover 12 of the coupling part 1 about a pivot axis R, and canhave a protruding portion 9 projecting toward the coupling part 5 of thebackrest frame 202. The protruding portion 9 may be exemplary attachedfixedly to the linking part 7. The pivot axis R of the linking part 7may be substantially orthogonal to the pivot axis of the backrest frame202, and the protruding portion 9 may be attached to the linking part 7at a location distant from the pivot axis R. The linking part 7 therebyassembled can rotate with the coupling part 1 and the seat portion 201relative to the connector 2. Moreover, the linking part 7 is rotatableabout the pivot axis R relative to the coupling part 1 between acoupling-enabled state where the protruding portion 9 can engage withthe coupling part 5 for movably coupling the seat portion 201 to thebackrest frame 202, and a decoupling state where the protruding portion9 is disengaged from the coupling part 5 for decoupled rotation of thebackrest frame 202 relative to the seat portion 201. According to anexample of construction, the coupling part 5 can include a channel 52having a curved shape as shown in FIG. 17 , and the protruding portion 9can be partially received in the channel 52 in the coupling-enabledstate and displaced outside the channel 52 in the decoupling state.

The spring 71 is configured to bias the linking part 7 toward thecoupling-enabled state. According to an example of construction, thespring 71 may be a compression spring, and may have two opposite endsrespectively connected with the linking part 7 and the casing portion 13of the coupling part 1.

Referring to FIGS. 15-18 , the release actuator 8 can be slidablyconnected with the coupling part 1, and can protrude outside thecoupling part 1 through an opening provided in the cover 12. Accordingto an example of construction, the release actuator 8 and the protrudingportion 9 may be placed at two sides of the pivot axis R. The releaseactuator 8 may be urged by a contact with the connector 2 to sliderelative to the coupling part 1 and push the linking part 7 to rotatefrom the coupling-enabled state to the decoupling state against thebiasing force of the spring 71.

Exemplary operation of the coupling mechanism 70 in the child seat 200is described hereinafter with reference to FIGS. 15-20 . Suppose thatthe child seat 200 is initially in the folded state with the backrestframe 202 collapsed toward the front of the seat portion 201 as shown inFIG. 19 . In the folded state, the latching device 3 is in the unlockingposition, the connector 2 can be set in the second angular positionrelative to the seat portion 201, and the linking part 7 can be in thecoupling-enabled state with the protruding portion 9 partially receivedin the channel 52. The child seat 200 in the folded state may beexemplary provided on a child stroller (not shown) with the connectors 2respectively engaged with corresponding structures provided on the childstroller.

For unfolding the child seat 200, the backrest frame 202 can be rotatedrelative to the seat portion 201 in the unfolding direction toward therear of the seat portion 201. As a result, the coupling part 5 can movealong with the backrest frame 202 in the unfolding direction relative tothe coupling portion 1 of the seat portion 201, which can result in arelative displacement of the protruding portion 9 along the channel 52toward an end 52A of the channel 52. The linking part 7 can remain inthe coupling-enabled state as the end 52A of the channel 52 moves alongwith the backrest frame 202 toward the protruding portion 9 of thelinking part 7.

After the backrest frame 202 has rotated an angle in the unfoldingdirection relative to the seat portion 201, the end 52A of the channel52 can contact with the protruding portion 9 of the linking part 7.Subsequently, further rotation of the backrest frame 202 in theunfolding direction can urge the coupling part 1 and the seat portion201 to rotate in unison with the backrest frame 202 relative to theconnector 2 through the contact between the end 52A of the channel 52and the protruding portion 9 of the linking part 7. This coupledrotation of the seat portion 201 and the backrest frame 202 in theunfolding direction can continue until an edge 25 of the connector 2(better shown in FIG. 16 ) contacts and urges the release actuator 8 toslide toward the interior of the coupling part 1 and push the linkingpart 7 to rotate from the coupling-enabled state to the decoupling stateso that the protruding portion 9 moves outside the channel 52 anddisengages from the end 52A of the channel 52. The seat portion 201 isthereby decoupled from the backrest frame 202, and no longer rotatesalong with the backrest frame 202. This decoupling of the seat portion201 from the backrest frame 22 caused by the contact of the connector 2with the release actuator 8 can occur when the connector 2 is in thefirst angular position relative to the seat portion 201. While thedecoupled seat portion 201 and the connector 2 remain stationary, thebackrest frame 202 can then continue to rotate relative to the seatportion 201 and the connector 2 until the backrest frame 202 reaches thedesired unfolded state, which causes the actuating part 51 to move andpush the latching device 3 to move from the unlocking position to thelocking position and engage with the connector 2. The connector 2 can bethereby locked in the first angular position relative to the seatportion 201 when the backrest frame 202 is in the unfolded state. FIG.20 illustrates the child seat 200 with the backrest frame 202 in theunfolded state and the connector 2 locked in the first angular positionrelative to the seat portion 201. The linking part 7 can remain in thedecoupling state with the protruding portion 9 displaced away from thechannel 52 in the unfolded state of the backrest frame 202.

For folding the child seat 200, the backrest frame 202 can be rotatedrelative to the seat portion 201 and the connector 2 in the foldingdirection toward the front of the seat portion 201. As the backrestframe 202 rotates in the folding direction, the actuating part 51 can bedisplaced away from the latching device 3 (e.g., away from the distalend of the stem portion 33 of the latching device 3) so that thelatching device 3 can be urged by the spring 4 to the unlocking positiondisengaged from the opening 21 of the housing 20. The connector 2 can bethereby unlocked from the seat portion 201, and the seat portion 201 canthen rotate relative to the connector 2 in the folding direction untilthe connector 2 reaches the second angular position relative to the seatportion 201. As the seat portion 201 rotates relative to the connector 2in the folding direction, the connector 2 can release the releaseactuator 8, and the spring 71 can urge the linking part 7 to move fromthe decoupling state to the coupling-enabled state for engaging theprotruding portion 9 of the linking part 7 with the channel 52 on thecoupling part 5 of the backrest frame 202.

In the aforementioned construction of the coupling mechanism 70, thelinking part 7 is configured to rotate between the coupling-enabledstate where the linking part 7 can engage with the coupling part 5 formovably coupling the seat portion 201 to the backrest frame 202, and thedecoupling state where the linking part 7 is disengaged from thecoupling part 5 for rotation of the backrest frame 202 relative to theseat portion 201. It will be appreciated, however, that other assembliesmay be possible. For example, the linking part 7 may be assembled withthe coupling part 1 via a sliding connection so that the linking part 7can slide relative to the coupling part 1 between the coupling-enabledstate where the linking part 7 can engage with the coupling part 5 formovably coupling the seat portion 201 to the backrest frame 202, and thedecoupling state where the linking part 7 is disengaged from thecoupling part 5 for rotation of the backrest frame 202 relative to theseat portion 201. In that case, the spring 71 may be configured to biasthe linking part 7 toward the coupling-enabled state, and the releaseactuator 8 can be movably connected with the coupling part 1 so as to bemovable by a contact with the connector 2 for pushing the linking part 7to slide from the coupling-enabled state to the decoupling state.

The coupling mechanism 70 described herein can movably couple the seatportion 201 to the backrest frame 202 for facilitating unfolding of thechild seat 200, and may be associated with any locking mechanisms usedfor locking the connector 2 in position with respect to the seat portion201. Moreover, the coupling mechanism 70 may also be omitted inembodiments that do not need movable coupling of the seat portion 201 tothe backrest frame 202.

FIGS. 21-23 are schematic views illustrating a variant construction of alocking mechanism 100C that may be used in an embodiment of the childseat 200 for locking the connector 2 with respect to the seat portion201. The locking mechanism 100C may be provided in an embodiment of thechild seat 200 that pivotally assembles the backrest frame 202 and theconnectors 2 to the seat portion 201 in a similar manner as previouslydescribed. Referring to FIGS. 21-23 , the locking mechanism 100C isoperatively connected with the backrest frame 202, and includes thelatching device 3 comprised of the stem portion 33 and the lockingportion 34 that can be assembled similar to the embodiment describedpreviously with reference to FIGS. 11-14 . In the embodiment of FIGS.21-23 , the stem portion 33 can likewise slide along the axis X towardthe interior of the guide slot 11 to urge the locking portion 34 toslide and protrude at a side of the stem portion 33 for engaging withthe housing 20 of the connector 2, and slide along the axis X toward theoutside of the guide slot 11 to urge the locking portion 34 to slide andretract toward the stem portion 33 for disengaging from the opening 21of the housing 20. The latching device 3 thereby configured can have alocking position in which the locking portion 34 of the latching device3 is engaged with the housing 20 of the connector 2 to lock theconnector 2 in the first angular position corresponding to the unfoldedstate of the child seat 200, and an unlocking position in which thelocking portion 34 of the latching device 3 is disengaged from thehousing 20 for relative rotation between the connector 2 and the seatportion 201.

Referring to FIGS. 22 and 23 , the locking mechanism 100C does not usethe spring 4 and the actuating part 51 of the locking mechanism 100B,but instead movably couples the stem portion 33 of the latching device 3to the coupling part 5 of the backrest frame 202 so that the movement ofthe latching device 3 between the locking and unlocking positions can becoupled to the rotation of the backrest frame 202. More specifically,the coupling part 5 can have a guide track 56, and the stem portion 33can be fixedly connected with a pin 335 that protrudes at a side of thestem portion 33 and is guided for sliding along the guide track 56. Asbetter shown in FIG. 23 , the guide track 56 can have a curved shape,and is offset from the pivot axis P of the backrest frame 202. The stemportion 33 can be thereby coupled to the coupling part 5 of the backrestframe 202 via a sliding connection that allows to controllably drive thelatching device 3 by rotating the backrest frame 202. More specifically,a rotation of the backrest frame 202 in the unfolding direction cancause relative sliding of the pin 335 in a first direction along theguide track 56 that results in the stem portion 33 sliding along theaxis X toward the interior of the guide slot 11, which urges the lockingportion 34 to slide and protrude at a side of the stem portion 33 forengaging with the housing 20 of the connector 2. Reversely, a rotationof the backrest frame 202 in a folding direction can cause relativesliding movement of the pin 335 in an opposite second direction alongthe guide track 56 that results in the stem portion 33 sliding along theaxis X toward the outside of the guide slot 11, which urges the lockingportion 34 to slide and retract toward the stem portion 33 fordisengaging from the opening 21 of the housing 20. With thisconstruction, the respective angular positions of the backrest frame 202corresponding to the locking and unlocking positions of the latchingdevice 3 may be set as desired.

Advantages of the structures described herein include the ability toprovide a child seat that has connectors allowing detachableinstallation on a child supporting apparatus and is convenient to foldand unfold once installed on the child supporting apparatus. After thechild seat is installed on the child supporting apparatus, a foldingrotation of the backrest frame can cause locking mechanisms to unlockthe connectors with respect to a seat portion of the child seat, and anunfolding rotation of the backrest frame can cause the lockingmechanisms to lock the connectors in position relative to the seatportion. When the connectors are unlocked, the seat portion can rotaterelative to the connectors for facilitating folding and unfolding of thechild seat.

Realization of the child seat has been described in the context ofparticular embodiments. These embodiments are meant to be illustrativeand not limiting. Many variations, modifications, additions, andimprovements are possible. These and other variations, modifications,additions, and improvements may fall within the scope of the inventionsas defined in the claims that follow.

What is claimed is:
 1. A child seat comprising: a seat portion fixedlyconnected with a first coupling part; a backrest frame fixedly connectedwith a second coupling part, the second coupling part being pivotallyconnected with the first coupling part about a first pivot axis so thatthe backrest frame is rotatable relative to the seat portion; aconnector pivotally connected with the seat portion about a second pivotaxis spaced apart from the first pivot axis, the connector beingoperable to detachably engage with a corresponding structure provided ona child supporting apparatus; and a locking mechanism operable torotationally lock and unlock the connector with respect to the seatportion.
 2. The child seat according to claim 1, wherein the connectoris pivotally connected with the first coupling part at an outer sidethereof.
 3. The child seat according to claim 1, wherein the connectoris pivotally connected with the first coupling part at a first sidethereof, and the second coupling part is pivotally connected with thefirst coupling part at a second side thereof opposite to the first side.4. The child seat according to claim 1, wherein the connector has aninsert opening adapted to detachably engage with a correspondingstructure provided on a child supporting apparatus, and the second pivotaxis is located adjacent to the insert opening.
 5. The child seataccording to claim 4, wherein the first pivot axis extends transversallythrough the insert opening, and the second pivot axis is located outsidethe insert opening.
 6. The child seat according to claim 1, wherein thesecond pivot axis is located higher than the first pivot axis.
 7. Thechild seat according to claim 1, wherein the connector and the secondcoupling part are pivotally connected with the first coupling partadjacent to a rear end of the seat portion.
 8. The child seat accordingto claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism is movable to engage with theconnector for rotationally locking the connector with respect to theseat portion and to disengage from the connector for rotationallyunlocking the connector with respect to the seat portion.
 9. The childseat according to claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism is configuredto switch between a locking state and an unlocking state in response toa rotation of the backrest frame relative to the seat portion and theconnector.
 10. The child seat according to claim 9, wherein the lockingmechanism is configured to switch to the unlocking state androtationally unlock the connector with respect to the seat portion inresponse to a rotation of the backrest frame in a folding direction, andis configured to switch to the locking state and rotationally lock theconnector with respect to the seat portion in response to a rotation ofthe backrest frame in an unfolding direction.
 11. The child seataccording to claim 10, wherein the backrest frame rotates toward a frontof the seat portion in the folding direction.
 12. The child seataccording to claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism includes a latchingdevice carried with the first coupling part, the latching device beingmovable relative to the first coupling part between a locking positionwhere the latching device engages with the connector for rotationallylocking the connector with respect to the seat portion and an unlockingposition where the latching device disengages from the connector forrotation of the connector relative to the seat portion.
 13. The childseat according to claim 12, wherein the locking mechanism furtherincludes a spring configured to bias the latching device to theunlocking position.
 14. The child seat according to claim 12, whereinthe latching device includes a stem portion and a locking portionconnected with each other, the stem portion being slidable along a guideslot provided in the first coupling part, and the locking portionprotruding at a side of the stem portion, the connector beingrotationally locked in position with respect to the seat portion by anengagement of the locking portion.
 15. The child seat according to claim14, wherein the locking mechanism further includes an actuating partthat is connected with the second coupling part and is movable alongwith the backrest frame during rotation of the backrest frame relativeto the seat portion and the connector, the actuating part contactingwith the stem portion to hold the latching device in the lockingposition when the backrest frame is unfolded, and the actuating partbeing displaced away from the stem portion for movement of the latchingdevice to the unlocking position when the backrest frame is folded. 16.The child seat according to claim 14, wherein the stem portion and thelocking portion are fixedly connected with each other, or the stemportion and the locking portion are coupled to each other via a slidingconnection allowing the locking portion to slide relative to the stemportion.
 17. The child seat according to claim 14, wherein the stemportion is movably coupled to the second coupling part so that amovement of the latching device between the locking position and theunlocking position is coupled to a rotation of the backrest frame. 18.The child seat according to claim 1, further including a couplingmechanism operable to movably couple the seat portion to the backrestframe so that the seat portion and the backrest frame are movable inunison relative to the connector during adjustment of the backrest framebetween an unfolded state and a folded state.
 19. The child seataccording to claim 18, wherein the coupling mechanism includes a linkingpart connected with the first coupling part, the linking part beingmovable relative to the first coupling part between a coupling-enabledstate where the linking part is engageable with the second coupling partfor movably coupling the seat portion to the backrest frame, and adecoupling state where the linking part is disengaged from the secondcoupling part for decoupled rotation of the backrest frame relative tothe seat portion.
 20. The child seat according to claim 19, wherein thesecond coupling part includes a channel, and the linking part has aprotruding portion, the protruding portion being partially received inthe channel in the coupling-enabled state and displaced outside thechannel in the decoupling state.